
Human Efforts Mar God's Plan
7.
How did Abraham and Sarah in their own wisdom seek to
carry out God's plan for them? Gen. 16:1-3, 15.
8.
What were the results of this? Verses 4-6; 21:9-14.
ANswEa.—Jealousy, quarreling, and harsh treatment of Hagar, with her
ultimate banishment from the home.
NorE.—"The instruction given to Abraham, touching the, sacredness of the
marriage relation, was to be a lesson for all ages. It declares that the rights
and happiness of this relation are to be carefully guarded, even at a great sac-
rifice. Sarah was the only true wife of Abraham. Her rights as a wife and
mother, no other person was entitled to' share. She reverenced her husband,
and in this she is presented in the New Testament as a worthy example. But
she was unwilling that Abraham's affections should be given to another; and
the Lord did not reprove her for requiring the banishment of her rival. Both
Abraham and Sarah distrusted the power of God, and it was this error that
led to the marriage with
Hagar."—Patriarchs and Prophets,
page 147.
9.
What definite assurance did God give Abraham and Sarah of
the birth of an heir? Gen. 17:1-4, 15-21.
10.
What was the age of Abraham and of Sarah when Isaac was
born? Verse 17; 21:1-5; Rom. 4:18, 19.
NorE.—Abraham's faith in the promises of God is greatly emphasized by
the circumstances surrounding the birth of Isaac. Both he and Sarah were
far beyond the age when they could expect children of their own. They had
at first misunderstood the promise, and Abraham had twice attempted to
carry out the promise in his own way, first in suggesting the making of Eliezer
his heir (Gen. 15:3), and later in marrying Hagar at Sarah's suggestion. But
when God, after this unfortunate marriage, made anew the promise of a son
to Abraham and Sarah, Abraham accepted that promise. It was, therefore pos-
sible for Paul to write in his letter to the Romans, "He staggered not at the
promise of God through unbelief ; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God."
The Trial of Abraham's Faith
11.
How was the faith of Abraham supremely tested when Isaac
was about twenty years of age? Gen. 22:1-6.
NOTE.—"God had called Abraham to be the father of the faithful, and his
life was to stand as an example of faith to succeeding generations. But his
faith had not been perfect. He had shown distrust of God in concealing the
fact that Sarah was his wife, and again in his marriage with Hagar. That he
might reach the highest standard, God subjected him to another test, the clos-
est which man was ever called to endure. In a vision of the night he was
directed to repair to the land of Moriah, and there offer up his son as a burnt
offering upon a mountain that should be shown him. At the time of receiving
this command, Abraham had reached the age of a hundred and twenty years."
—Patriarchs and Prophets,"
page 147.
12.
What in this experience shows that Isaac had the same living
faith as his father? Verses 7-10.
ANSWER.—HIS willing and humble submission to his aged father.
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